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C\l ~ 00 STATEMENT OF HARRIS D, SHERMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SAVERY-POT HOOK PROJECT GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO MARCH 22, 1977 Once again, for the record, I am Harris D.. Sherman, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natura 1 Resources. I want to address speci fically the envi ron- mental impacts of the Savery-Pot Hook Project since the Carter Administration has con- cluded that the impacts are adverse and the project fails to qualify for executive support. My comments are addressed only to the Pot Hook portion of thi s project. Representatives from the State of Wyoming will comment on the Savery portion. The Department of Natural Resources has considered the environmental factors through our wildlife, water conservation, recreation, and water quality agencies. Our review was unusually thorough. Because of controversy surrounding aspects of this project, the Department of Natural Resources subsequently submitted the project to Governor Lamm's cabinet level policy council. Rarely has a project been so carefully scrutinized by this state. The conclusion of the Governor's council was that the Savery-Pot Hook poses no serious environmental problems if the mitigation measures set forth in the environmental impact statement are followed, I would like to briefly describe the extent of environmental effects and how they are to be mitigated. Before doing so, I should emphasize that there were wide discrepancies in opinion over anticipated environmental impacts requiring close examin- ation of the facts. I would urge at least as careful an examination on your part as was undertaken by the State. Among the concerns raised over the project are potential effects on several endangered fish species found in the Yampa River. The Bureau of Reclamation devoted particular attention to identifying any impacts on the endangered or threatened